Automatic stacking device for publication conveyor



United States Patent [72] Inventors Samuel Oderman Corona Del Mar,California; Raymond L. Wiseman, Santa Ana, California; George T.Rushforth, Mission Viejo, California [21] Appl. No. 717,231 [22] FiledMarch 29, 1968 [45] Patented Sept. l, 1970 [73] Assignee Sta-HiCorporation Newport Beach, California a corporation of California [54]AUTOMATIC STACKING DEVICE FOR PUBLICATION CONVEYOR 30 Claims, 12 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S. Cl 93/93, 53/78, 271/69 [51] Int. Cl B65b 57/20, B65b 65/08,B31b 1/98 [50] Field of Search 93/93; 53/78; 271/69 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.24,615 3/1959 Zernov 93/93 2,232,7202/1941 Novick 27l/69X 2,751,731 6/1956 Evers 53/78X 3,088,604 5/1963Nilsson 93/93(.3)UX

Primary Examiner-Wayne A. Morse, Jr. Attorney-Mahoney and HornbakerABSTRACT: Stack support members of two sets are positioned alternately,each set being separately movable and all being movable in a continuouspath downwardly through a stacking region. Each set is stopped as oneofits support members reaches the stacking region upper end while theother set continues to move a support member downwardly through thestacking region receiving publications into a stack thereon. A

releasable latch engages free ends of the support members duringstopping at the stacking region upper end co-operating with particularguides to tilt the support members upwardly and pretension the same forsnap entrance into the stacking region upon movement thereof beingresumed. The guides always control the angle of extension ofthe supportmembers throughout movement and withdraw the support members in ageneral horizontal direction from beneath the publication stacks aboveand depositing the same on a receiving surface at the stacking regionlower end.

. Patented Sept. 1, 197B 3,526,170

mwa/T025 SAMUEL 00E/a MA u,

RAY/140Mo L. W/sEMAN,

Patented Sept. l, 1970 Sheet 21 of 6 NH 5., r e.. m Nm@ E@ TAE@ A5 5N 6E KWS e V5.0 @M G. W/Dn HTW FI Lw. MA ,MYR 0 .AAM H 50H6 MA PatentedSept. 1, 1970 .IM/H E @MMM oAEo AE IMSF 5 3% m .U .Ww/R mw /Lw aA www;@Mmmm Patented Sept. l, 1970 3,526,170

/IZ l Patented Sept. 1,. 1970 WVM/mes SAMUEL ODERMAN, /PA vMaA/'o L.W/SEMAN, eoass Z RUSH/mera @y WHOA/EY HORA/@M52 AUM/ffy@ AUTOMATICSTACKING DEVICE FOR PUBLICATION CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to an automatic stacking device for publicationconveyors and, more particularly, to a stacking device having a seriesof stack support members movable downwardly through a stacking regionintercepting a continuous stream of publications fed thereto forbuilding a stack of said publications thereon and depositing said stackon a generally horizontal receiving surface at the stacking region lowerend.

Even more particularly, this invention relates to a stacking device ofthe foregoing character incorporating a unique concept in stack supportmember movement and an improved control of said movement for moreperfectly building stacks of publications thereon perfectly arranged andof` a predetermined size. Furthermore, the invention incorporates novelpreloading or pretensioning of the support members ready for snapentrance into the stacking region to more positively intercept thepublication stream, and a novel arrangement of withdrawal of the supportmembers from a finished publication stack for depositing said stack on areceiving surface at the lower end of the stacking region.

Various prior forms of stacking devices for publication conveyors haveheretofore been provided, all of which have included certain inherentdifficulties and disadvantages creating a long felt want and need forimprovement thereof. One of the more common forms of prior stackingdevices has included a series of generally L-shaped stack supportmembers mounted at spaced intervals on continuous conveyor chains orbelts for movement successively downwardly through a stacking region andthen rearwardly and upwardly for return to the stacking region upper endready for repassage downwardly therethrough.

During the movement ofthe support members downwardly through thestacking region, a continuous stream of imbricated publications isintercepted to build a stack thereof on the particular support member,the finished stack being deposited at the stacking region lower end bypassage of the support members downwardly through a stack receivingsurface.

One of the major difficulties with these prior stacking devices hasresulted from the fact that it has been necessary to move the stacksupporting members through the stacking region in an irregular stoppingand starting pattern, said pattern being regulated and determined by thesize or thickness of an individual publication in the final publicationstack being built, as well as the number of said publications intendedin said final stack. ln other words, the stack support members areuniform and preset distances apart on their driving conveyor chains andthe publication stacks being built must necessarily be smaller than thepreset size of the individual stack support members, the major portionof the time considerably smaller.

For instance, keeping in mind that the continuous stream of imbricatedpublications being fed to the stacking device is moving at a relativelyhigh rate of speed, a particular stack support member will enterdownwardly into the stacking region to intercept said publication streamand begin to receive a stack of said publications being built thereon,while at the same time the next stack support member will be movingtoward the stacking region upper end or entrance. Ultimately, this nextstack support member will reach its position at the stacking regionupper end ready for entrance downwardly into said stacking region, atwhich time movement of all of the stack support members will be stoppedawaiting completion of the stack building on the stack support memberthen intermediate the stacking region and intercepting the publicationstream.

Although the speed of movement of the stack support members may beregulated within certain limits in an attempt to more nearly conform thesame to the thickness of publication of a particular publication run andthe resulting stack size, as-

suming the number of publications in each stack is intended to be thesame, the rate of feed of the publications from the continuous stream tothe stacking device is constantly varying, at least by small amounts,due to slight differences in the amount of publication overlap in thecontinuous stream, as well as gaps therein occurring at previousstations along the conveyor system. Thus, with the stack support membersall being required to move and stop simultaneously, the only possiblepractical manner of control for building publication stacks thereon isto regulate the stopping and starting of the stack support members bycounting the publications as they leave the infeed section of theconveyor system and enter the stacking region of the stacking device.

As a result, it is absolutely necessary that the movement of the stacksupport members will be of a stop and start pattern, as previouslydescribed, the particular stack support member entering the stackingregion moving quickly downwardly well ahead of the publication stackbeing built thereon and stopping when the next stack support memberreaches the stacking region upper end. This, therefore, requires thatthe individual publications leaving the continuous publication stream atthe stacking region must drop an appreciable distance downwardly ontothe stack being built on the particular stack support member now withinthe stacking region. Considerable problems and difficulties are therebyencountered in improper publication stacking, said stacks many timesbeing extremely irregular and disarranged, requiring constant attentionto the stacks leaving the stacking device.

A further consideration requiring that the simultaneously movable stacksupport members must be movable in the previously described stop andstart pattern is occasioned by the desirability of providing some meansassociated with the stack support members preloading or pretensioningthe same for rapid or snap movement into the stacking region for quicklymoving into a position intercepting the continuous publication stream atthe correct instant when a stack has been completed on the precedingstack support member then within the stacking region. This snap entranceof the stack support members into the stacking region has beenaccomplished in certain of the prior stacking devices by mounting thestack support members on the driving conveyor chains thereof throughspring loaded slides which co-operate with a latch at the stackingregion upper end to stop the stack support members shortly prior tocomplete stopping of the driving conveyor chains and resulting in aspring loading of the stack support members for snap entrance linto thestacking region when the latch is released. This not only multiplies thenecessity of providing the stack support members with the stop-startmovement and the various difficulties connected therewith, but alsopresents further difficulties through still relatively slow publicationstream interception due to the required size and bulk of' the L-shapedstack support members and the fact that the publication stream must moveat a relatively high rate of speed in order to accomplish thepublication conveying and stacking operations in a minimum of time.

Still further difficulties and disadvantages have been occasioned by theprior stacking devices resulting from the particular manner of removalof the finished publication stacks from the stack support members at thelower end of the stacking region. As previously alluded to, such stackremoval has been accomplished by moving the stack support members withthe finished publication stacks supported thereon downwardly through agenerally horizontal stack receiving surface. The generally horizontallyextending portions of the stack support members upon which thepublication stacks are supported have been formed by a series of spaced,cantilever mounted tines which move downwardly through spaced rollersforming the stack receiving surface at the stacking region lower end,thereby depositing the finished stacks on the roller-formed stackreceiving surface.

Occasionally, as the stack support members snap into position originallyintercepting the publication stream and starting the building of thepublication stack thereon, the tines of the particular stack supportmember will horizontally impale the first publication of the stackthereon, said tines actually penetrating the publication through theleading edge thereof and positioning a portion of said publication bothabove and below said tines. Thus, when this particular stack supportmember reaches the stacking region lower end with a finished publicationstack thereon and is ready for the tines thereof` to pass downwardlythrough the rollers forming the stack receiving surface in order toremove said finished stack therefrom, it is impossible to remove thestack from the stack support member in this vertical pattern of movementin view of the engagement of the first publication by the support membertines, as previously described. Movement of the stacking device is,therefore, stalled and the entire conveying system stops until thedifficulty can be corrected, causing time consuming delays.

Still further difficulties have been presented with the prior stackingdevices inherent in the fact that the stack support members have beenrequired to be formed generally L-shaped in configuration. ln order toproperly build a stack of publications quickly on the stack supportmembers while still maintaining the same in a reasonable verticalalignment, it is necessary that said publications will be supported notonly vertically, but also on at least one edge horizontally, thus, theL- shaped configuration of the stack support members. In view of thisrequired L-shaped configuration, however, the stack support members arerelatively bulky and heavy, requiring greater forces for moving thesame, as well as stopping and starting the same. The result has beengreat difficulty in controlling the movement of the stack supportmembers so as to contribute to many ofthe foregoing difficulties.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of thepresent invention to provide an automatic stacking device forpublication conveyors in which the successive stack support membersentering the stacking region of the stacking device are independentlymovable so that one stack support member may move continuouslydownwardly through the stacking region in any desired pattern ofmovement while the next succeeding stack support member may be stoppedready for entrance into the stacking region upper end. According tocertain of the principles ofthe present invention, at least two separateconveyor drives are provided, each separately driving alternate stacksupport members. Thus, the movement of a stack support member downwardlythrough the stacking region is not dependent on nor in any way involvedwith movement of the succeeding stack support member and the movement ofeach stack support member may be individually regulated as to speed andas to the size of publication stack ultimately built thereon.

lt is a further object ofthe invention to provide an automatic stackingdevice for publication conveyors wherein the stack support members arepreloaded or tensioned in position for snap entrance into the stackingregion upper end in a new and unique manner supplying more efficient andgreater speed of interception of the continuous publication streamresulting in the publication conveyor being permitted to operate at ahigher speed. Rather than the slidable preloading and snap entrance ofthe stack support members into the stacking region upper end, accordingto certain of the principles of the present invention, the stack supportmembers are preloaded in a pivotal upward tilting by releasable latchmeans engaging free ends ofcantilever mounted supporting portionsthereof. Upon release for snap entrance into the stacking region upperend, therefore, the entrance is pivotal rather than slidable, requiringmuch less force for accomplishing the same and permitting more positive,higher speed publication stream interception.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an automaticstacking device for publication conveyors wherein the stack supportmembers may be withdrawn in a general horizontal direction from beneaththe finished publication stacks at the stacking region lower end fordepositing said stacks directly on a generally horizontal stackreceiving surface so as to eliminate the difficulties encountered withthe prior devices when a publication becomes accidentally impaled on astack support member. Preferably, the stack support members are formedwith cantilever mounted supporting portions which are horizontallywithdrawn totally above the stack receiving surface at the stackingregion lower end, the terminal phase of supporting portion withdrawalbeing immediately above said stack receiving surface so as to smoothlydeposit the finished publication stack in virtually perfect, prearrangedand aligned order. Furthermore, the stack receiving surface, due to thecomplete withdrawal of the stack support members totally thereabove, maybe formed by a conventional continuous conveyor belt, rather than thepreviously required spaced conveyor rollers.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an automatic stackingdevice for publication conveyors wherein the stack support members maybe formed with merely cantilever mounted supporting portions and withoutthe requirement for attached vertically extending back portionsresulting in a greatly simplified and advantageous construction, yetstill accomplishing properly arranged and aligned publication stacks.The stack support members are preferably formed essentially ofcantilever mounted, spaced tines projecting forwardly into the stackingregion during movement of the stack support members downwardly throughsaid stacking region. The rear support providing the horizontalalignment for the publication stack being built is supplied by spaced,stationary supporting surfaces on the main frame of the stacking devicethrough which the support member tines project, move downwardly alongand are preferably generally horizontally withdrawn from the stackingregion lower end.

Thus, not only are the stack support members greatly simplified and moreeasily controlled due to less weight and bulkiness thereof, but theangle of cantilevered extension of the support member tines is free ofany dependence or connection with the co-operating, stationary backsupporting surfaces permitting independent angular control and change ofangular extension of the support member tines. Also, the independentsupport member tines may withdraw generally horizontally rearwardlythrough the stationary back supporting surfaces for deposit of thepublication stacks on the stack receiving surface at the stacking regionlower end, the stationary back supporting surfaces virtually wiping thestacks from the support member tines while retaining said stacks inorderly stacked position.

It is still an additional object of the invention to provide anautomatic stacking device for publication conveyors of the foregoinggeneral character wherein special guide means is provided for the stacksupport members during movement thereof downwardly through the stackingregion so as to constantly change and always position the cantilevermounted supporting portions of the support members extending at the mostefficient angles for properly receiving and building thereon thepublication stacks. The stack supporting members are preferablypivotally mounted on their respective conveyor chain means, with guidemembers thereon spaced from said pivotal connection and movabledownwardly through guide track means for controlling pivotal movement ofthe stack support members resulting in changing angular extensionthereof as desired.

Also, the co-operation of the pivotal connections, the guide members andthe guide track means permits the upward angular tilting of the stacksupport members in preloading or pretensioning the same for snapentrance into the stacking region upper end, and also permits the uniquegenerally horizontal withdrawal of the support members from beneath thepublication stacks at the stacking region lower end in a predeterminedand perfectly controlled manner,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings which are for thepurpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, sideelevational view of an embodiment of stacking device incorporating theprinciples of the present invention having an infeed portion thereofconnected to the terminal end of an infeed conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional view looking in the direction of thearrows 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view looking inthe direction of the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view lookingin the direction of the arrows 4-4 in FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view lookingin the direction ofthe arrows 5-5 in FIG. I; y

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view looking inthe direction of the arrows 6-6 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view looking in thedirection ofthe arrows 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view looking inthe direction of the arrows 8-8 in FIG. 2, but with a stack supportmember just released for snap entrance into the stacking region upperend and the commencement of movement downwardly through said stackingregion; and v FIGS. 9, I0, 1l and 12 are vertical, sectional viewssimilar to FIG. 3, but with various parts removed for clarity,illustrating various positioning of the stack support members duringmovement thereof downwardly through the stacking region and about theircontinuous paths of movement on the stacking device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENT CONTEMPLATED Referring to thedrawings, and particularly FIGS. l through 8 thereof, the illustratedembodiment of the stacking device incorporating the principles of thepresent invention includes a main frame, generally indicated at 20,supporting an infeed conveyor section, generally indicated at 22, astacking section, generally indicated at 24, and an outfeed conveyorsection, generally indicated at 26. The infeed conveyor section 22 isconnected to the terminus of a usual publication conveyor 28 forreceiving the usual continuous stream of imbricated publications, suchas newspapers, from said publication conveyor. Furthermore, the varioussections of the stacking device are integrated such that the continuousstream of imbricated publications is fed by the infeed conveyor section22 angularly downwardly into the stacking section 24 for building aseries of publication stacks in said stacking section 24 and depositingthe same on the outfeed conveyor section 26 from which the publicationstacks are immediately conveyed away from the stacking device.

The infeed conveyor section 22 is of somewhat usual construction,including upper and lower sets of conveyor belts 30 and 32 feeding thecontinuous stream of publications by a counter 34 which counts eachindividual publication immediately prior to it being fed to the stackingsection 24. The counter 34 may be of usual construction, the connectionthereof into the overall control system of the stacking devicenecessarily being novel due to the improvements of the presentinvention, all of which will be hereinafter described in detail.Furthermore, the publications leaving the infeed conveyor section 22pass angularly downwardly to the stacking section 24 beneath a novellatch mechanism, generally in` dicated at 36, likewise to be hereinafterdescribed in detail.

The outfeed conveyor section 26 is formed with a generally horizontalstack receiving surface 38 which, due to certain of the improvements ofthe present invention, may be provided by a continuous, flat conveyorbelt 40. The conveyor belt 40 is driven in the usual manner through adrive motor 42 and common power transmission means including thesprocket chain 44. Also, the outfeed conveyor section 26 may includemembers forming a generally vertical stack guide surface 46 for guidingthe publication stacks during deposit onto the stack receiving surface38 and movement of said stacks fromthe outfeed conveyor section 26.

wardly through an upper return region 58 back to the upper -end ofthestacking region 52.

The stack support members 48 and 50 are alternately positioned and eachset is separately movable substantially independent of the other so thatone of the support members 48 may move downwardly through the stackingregion 52 while one of the support members 50 is positioned stationaryat the stacking region upper end, as shown, for instance, in FIG. l, or

one of the support members 50 may move downwardly through the stackingregion while one of the support members 48 is positioned stationary atthe stacking region upper end.

Each of the support members 48 and 50 are, however, guided in the samemanner and in the same continuous path about the main frame 20.

As best seen in FIGS. l, 2, 4 and 5, the stack support members 48 arepivotally secured movable on an inner set of con- "veyor chains 60 andthe support members 50 on an outer set of conveyor chains 62, the innerconveyor chains 60 being engaged over appropriate, transversely spacedinner sprockets 64 and the outer conveyor chains 62 engaged over outersprockets 66 of transversely extending upper and lower drive shafts 68and 70. The inner sprockets 64 are secured to the upper drive shaft 68in driving engagement therewith and journaled on the lower drive shaft70, while the outer sprockets 66 are journaled on the upper drive shaft68 and secured in driving engagement on the lower drive shaft 70. Thus,driving rotation of the upper drive shaft 68 will move the continuousinner conveyor chains 60 to move the stack support members 48, anddriving rotation of the lower drive shaft 70 will move the continuousouter conveyor chains 62 to move the stack support members 50, themovement of the stack support members 48 being independent of themovement ofthe stack support members 50.

The upper drive shaft 68 is driven by a preferably variable speed drivemotor 72 through a series of drive chains 74 and the lower drive shaft70 is driven by a similar drive motor 76 through a series of drivechains 78. As particularly shown in FIG. 5, within each of the systemsof drive chains 74 connecting the drive motor 72 to the upper driveshaft 68 and the drive chains 78 connecting the drive motor 76 to thelower drive shaft 70 are a pair of axially, transversely aligned controlshafts 80 and 82, the control shaft 80 being rotatably driven with theupper drive shaft 68 and the control shaft 82 being rotatably drivenwith the lower drive shaft 70.

The control shaft 80 mounts a control plate 84 and a series of controlcams 86 engageable with a series of control switches 88, while thecontrol shaft 82 similarly mounts a control plate 90 and a series ofcontrol cams 92 engageable with a series of control switches 94.

The control plates 84 and 90 are, for the main part, spaced axiallyapart for independent rotation, but the control plate 84 includes asegmental safety block 96 projecting axially into circumferentialinterference with a similar segmental safety block 98 of the controlplate 90. In normal movement of the support members 48 and 50 in theircontinuous path of movement, consequently rotation of the control plates84 and 90, the safety blocks 96 and 98 are spaced circumferentiallyapart, but if the support members 48 and 50 should move within apredetermined distance of each other, the safety blocks 96 and 98 willengage, forcing movement of both sets of support members so as toprevent one set from attempting to overrun the other. The purpose of therespective control cams 86 and 92 with the control switches 88 and 94 isfor partial control of the drive motors 72 and 76, as will behereinafter described.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, all of the support members 48 and 50 aresubstantially identical, with each including a transverse mounting plate100 secured to mounting ends 102 of a series of transversely spacedtines 104 which terminate in free ends 106. The tines 104, therefore,are cantilever mounted on the mounting plate 1,00 and extend from saidmounting plate, as well as the conveyor chains 60 or 62 to which theparticular mounting plate is pivotally connected. Furthermore, when theparticular stack support member 48 or 50 is moving downwardly throughthe forward stacking region 52, the tines 104 project forwardly into thestacking region so as to constitute stack supporting portions forreceiving stacks of publications being built on upper surfaces thereof.

Spaced inner and outer guide rollers 108 and 110 are mounted at each ofthe transversely spaced ends of the mounting plate 100, the guiderollers 108 and 110 of each set being transversely offset and beingspaced apart in the forward and rearward direction, that is, in the samedirection of cantilever extension of the stack supporting tines 104.Transversely opposed and spaced, generally U-shaped inner and outerguide tracks 112 and 114 are mounted on the main frame respectivelyreceiving the inner and outer guide rollers 108 and 110 movabletherethrough during movement of the support members 48 and 50 alongtheir continuous paths of travel around the main frame. Thus, due to therigid connection between the support member mounting plate 100 and tines104, the inner and outer guide rollers 108 and 110 in movement along theinner and outer guide tracks 112 and 114 control the position or angleof extension of the tines, as determined by the extension andpositioning of the inner and outer guide tracks in combination with thepivotal connection of the mounting plate 100 to the conveyor chains 60or 62.

The inner guide tracks 112 are transversely aligned and extendsubstantially identically, as do the outer guide tracks 114, and asparticularly shown in FIG. 3, the inner guide tracks 112 begin along theupper end of the rearward return region 56, extending along the upperreturn region 58 and downwardly along the forward stacking region 52,while the outer guide tracks 114 begin along the upper end of theforward stacking region 52 extending downwardly therealong, rearwardlyalong the lower return region 54 and upwardly along the rearward returnregion 56 to near the upper end thereof.

As a consequence, both the inner and outer guide rollers 108 and 110 arecontrolled by the inner and outer guide tracks 112 and 114 substantiallytotally along the stacking region 52, merely the outer guide rollers 110are controlled by the outer guide tracks 114 along the lower returnregion 54 and the rearward return region 56 due to the termination ofthe inner guide tracks 112, and merely the inner guide rollers 108 arecontrolled by the inner guide tracks 112 from the upper end of therearward return region 56 through the upper return region 58 and intothe upper end of the stacking region 52 due to the termination of theouter guide tracks 114 and the slightly overlapping commencement of theinner guide tracks 112, as shown.

Important to certain of the principles of the present invention is thefact that at least one or the other of the inner and outer guide rollers108 and 110 are at all times controlled by one or the other of the innerand outer guide tracks 112 and 114 so that there is always guide rollerand guide track control of the movement of the support members 48throughout their continuous path oftravel.

As is best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7, the entrance of the outer guiderollers 110 into the outer guide tracks 1I4 at the upper end of thestacking region 52 is along the pivotal gates 116 which are normallyspring urged forwardly to closed position, but upon contact by the outerguide rollers 110 moving downwardly therealong` pivot rearwardly, asshown in FIG. 6, to expose the track offsets ll8, permitting the outerguide rollers 110 to move rearwardly therein.

The outer guide rollers 110 are urged rearwardly for entrance into thetrack offsets 118 by upward angular tilting of the tines 104 of thesupport members 48 and 50 caused by the tine free ends 106 engaging thelatch mechanism 36, all to be hereinafter explained more in detail.Sufficient for the moment, upon the outer guide rollers 110 entering thetrack offsets 118, these outer guide rollers ultimately engage asomewhat horizontal stop surface of a vertically slotted and slidableswitch bar 122 which is normally spring urged upwardly.

As the switch bar 122 is forced downwardly by the particuvlar of theouter guide rollers 110 and reaches its lower point of movement, therespective outer guide roller 110 is stopped to stop further downwardmovement of the particular support member 48 or 50, Also, downwardmovement of the switch bar 122 engages the stop switch 124 causing astopping of the particular drive motor 72 or 76 controlling the drive ofthat particular support member, the unaffected of the drive motors 72 or76 controlling the movement of the other set of support members 48 or 50having an appropriate override control connected therewith preventingthat particular drive motor from being affected by engagement of thestop switch 124.

Switch bars 122 may be provided at each of the track offsets 118 forappropriately controlling the particular of the drive motors 72 or 76driving the particular ofthe support members 48 or 50 then at said trackoffsets, or only one of said track offsets may be provided with a switchbar 122 and the other merely having an appropriate stop surfacetransversely aligned with the stop surface 120 when the switch bar 122is in its lowermost position.

As can be seen in FIG, 3, in the simultaneous downward extension of theinner and outer guide tracks 112 and 114 along the stacking region 52,said guide tracks continuously move angularly closer together, as viewedin transverse elevation in FIG. 3, thereby progressively shifting theangles of extension of the support members 48 and 50 during their traveldownwardly through the stacking region, as will be hereinafter morecompletely explained. Also, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a seriesof transversely spaced and transversely aligned stack guide bars 126extend downwardly along the stacking region 52 at the forward edges ofthe outer guide tracks 114 beginning at the upper ends of the outerguide tracks 114, extending angularly downwardly therealong andultimately nearly vertically downwardly to the rearward edge of thestack receiving surface 38 on the outfeed conveyor section 26.

As particularly shown in FIG. 4, it will be noted that the stack guidebars 126 are transversely spaced and transversely positioned between theforward extension of the support member tines 104 during movement of thesupport members 48 and 50 downwardly through the stacking region 52 sothat these stack guide bars form rear stack guide surfaces 128 andpermit the support member tines 104 to project forwardly therethroughand to be withdrawn rearwardly therethrough, as will also be hereinafterexplained more in detail.

As best seen in FIGS, 1, 3 and 4, the latch mechanism 36 is secured tothe infeed conveyor section 22 above the lower strands of the upperconveyor belts 30 extending angularly across to the stack guide bars 126and across the upper end of the stacking region 52. Further, the latchmechanism 36 includes a latch support plate 130 forming the bridgeacross the upper end of the stacking region 52 and having a series oftransversely spaced slots 132 dimensioned and positioned for the freepassage of the tines 104 of the support members 48 and 50 downwardlytherethrough, as shown in FIG. 4. A pair of latch bars 134 slidablyoverlie the latch support plate 130 normally blocking the forwardextremities of the two central slots 132 so as to normally obstruct orcatch the forward extremities or free ends 106 of the two central tines104 on the support members 48 and 50 upon attempted passage of saidsupport member tines downwardly through the slots 132.

The latch bars 134 are operably connected through a latch chain 136 toan electric solenoid 138 for slidable withdrawal forwardly of the latchbars 134 upon actuation of the solenoid 138 to clear the particularslots 132 of the latch support plate 130 and permit the tines 104 of thesupport members 48 and 50 to pass freely downwardly therethrough. Theactuation of the solenoid 138 is controlled by the counter 34, that is,when the counter 34 has determined that a desired publication stack hasbeen received or built on the preceding support member 48 or 50 thenpassing downwardly through the stacking region 52 and it is time forrelease of the next support member 48 or 50 from the stacking regionupper end for downward entrance into the stacking region andinterception of the continuous stream of publications from the infeedconveyor section 22, all of which will be subsequently explained inproper sequence.

In general, movement of the support members 48 and 50 around the mainframe in their continuous path of travel, the pattern of said movementbeing shown in FIG. 3 and the pattern of movement of the tine free ends106 being indicated by the broken line 139, as one of said supportmembers approaches the forward end of the upper return region 58 in thedot-dash position indicated at 140, the inner guide rollers 10S arecontrolled in the inner guide tracks 112 and the outer guide rollers 110are still free, the support member mounting plate 100 pivoting about theparticular of the conveyor chains 60 or 62 due to the pivotal connectionthereto.

As the support member tines 104 pass through the latch support plate 130ofthe latch mechanism 36, the free end 106 of the two central tinesengage the latch bars 134, causing the tines to tilt upwardly in theforward direction and pivoting the support member mounting plate 100about the conveyor chains 60 or 62. At the same time, the support memberouter guide rollers 110 move along the gates 116 of the track offsets118 pivoting said gates rearwardly and entering into the track offsetsagainst the stop surfaces 120 of the switch bars 122, actuating the stopswitch or switches 124.

The particular support member 48 or 50 is, therefore, not only tiltedupwardly by the latch mechanism 36 with the outer guide rollers 110thereof` entering the track offsets 118 of the outer guide tracks 114,but the stop surfaces 120 in said track offsets in combination with thecessation of drive by the stop switch or switches 124 brings theparticular support member to a stopped position ready for entrance intothe upper end of the stacking region 52.

Important to certain of the principles of the invention is the fact thatthe dimensioning of the various elements and the particular locationsthereof are precalculated so that in said stopping of the particularsupport member 48 or 50, the two support member tines engaging the latchbars 134 ofthe latch mechanism 36 are resiliently bowed upwardly andthereby resiliently tensioned. At the same time and simultaneous withthe resilient tensioning of the support member tines 104, the entranceof the support member outer guide rollers 110 into the track offsets 118causes a slight rearward bowing of the particular conveyor chains 60 or62 to which that particular support member 48 or 50 is connected which,along with lengthwise tensioning of said conveyor chains as a result ofthe abrupt stopping of the particular support member, furtherresiliently tensions the particular support member in the describedupwardly tilted and stopped position.

Thus, upon the release of the support member tines 104 through thewithdrawal ofthe latch bars 134 by actuation of the solenoid 138,combined with the simultaneous commencement of drive of the particularsupport member 48 or 50 by the drive motor 72 or 76 thereof, theparticular support member snaps downwardly to the dot-dash positionindicated at 142, entering the upper end ofthe stacking region 52.During said snap entrance, the particular support member mounting plate100 pivots about the particular conveyor chains 60 or 62, causing theouter guide rollers 110 of said support member to move forwardly out ofthe track offsets 118 and begin to move downwardly into the outer guidetracks 114, along with the downward movement of the support member andthe inner guide rollers 108 in the inner guide tracks 112, as shown inFIG. 8.

Furthermore, in view of the fact that prior to the release of theparticular support member 48 or 50, the publications from the continuousstream of publications entering the stacking region 52 from between theupper and lower conveyor belts 30 and 32 of the infeed conveyor section22 have been passing beneath that particular support member and beingpositioned on a stack in process of building on the next precedingsupport member 48 or 50, the snap entrance of the particular supportmember into the stacking region into the position indicated at 142causes said support member to instantaneously intercept the publicationstream and start the building of a stack of publications thereon.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the support members 48 or 50, after releaseby the latch mechanism 36, or moved progressively downwardly through thestacking region 52 as guided by the inner and outer guide rollers 108and 110 moving downwardly through the inner and outer guide tracks 112and 114. Intermediate the downward movement of the particular supportmember 48 or l50 through the stacking region 52, the building of thestack of publications thereon is completed and the coritinuous stream ofpublications is intercepted by the next succeeding support member, theparticular support member with the completed stack continuing to moveprogressively downwardly through the remainder of the stacking region.Also, during the entire movement of a support member 48 or 50 downwardlythrough the stacking region 52, the tines 104 thereof are progressivelytilted or angled greater and greater degrees upwardly, as illustrated,due to the fact that the inner and outer guide tracks 112 and 114 whichcontrol the angle of extension of the tines move closer and closertogether, as previously described,

As the particular support member 48 or 50 approaches the lower end ofthe stacking region 52, the outer guide rollers 110 thereof remain inthe outer guide tracks 114 and guided thereby, but the inner guiderollers 108 begin to move from the lower termination of the inner guidetracks 112 in the manner illustrated in dot-dash lines and indicated at144. At this time, the tines 104 ofthe particular support member 48 or50 are still fully within the stacking region 52 and beneath thefinished stack of publications projecting forwardly through the stackguide bars 126 and the rear stack guide surfaces 128 formed thereby.Ultimately, the inner guide rollers 108 move downwardly free of theinner guide tracks 112, while the outer guide rollers 110 begin to enterthe lower curved portions of the outer guide tracks 114 starting to movethe particular support member rearwardly into the lower return region 54and beginning to withdraw the tines 104 thereof in a general horizontaldirection from beneath the finished stack of publications, asillustrated by the dot-dash position indicated at 146.

As indicated by the offset or jog in the broken line 139 spaced abovethe stack receiving surface 38, as the guide of the support member 48 or50 is taken over by the rearward curved portions of the outer guidetracks 114 beginning the withdrawal of the tines 104, the support member48 or 50 makes a sharp change of direction of movement from generallyvertical to generally horizontal merely due to the inherent curvature ofthe outer guide tracks 114 and the fastening of the support membersthereto. The result is that the suppon member 48 or 50 moves relativelyrapidly downwardly during the stacking operation and until it approachesthe lower end of the stacking region 52, where, due to this sharp guidedchange of direction, it suddenly slows its vertical movement and beginspart generally horizontal movement to more slowly and smoothly depositits finished stack of publications on the horizontal stack receivingsurface 38.

,Continued rearward generally horizontal withdrawal of the tines 104 onthe particular support member 48 or 50 from beneath the finished stackof publications finally releases said stack and deposits the samesmoothly vertically onto the generally horizontal stack receivingsurface 38 of the outfeed conveyor section 26 in the manner illustratedby the dot-dash position indicated at 148 and as guided by the rearstack guide surfaces 128 of the stack guide bars 126 through which thetines are being withdrawn. At the release of the finished stack ofpublications, the support member tines 104 withdraw completely throughthe stack guide bars 126 and it will be noted that such tine withdrawalis completely above, but closely adjacent to the stack receiving surface38 of the outfeed conveyor section 26, as cari be seen by a comparisonof the dot-dash position 148 in which the tines 104 are partiallywithdrawn and a subsequent dot-dash position indicated at 150 in whichsaid tines are fully withdrawn. It will also be noted that the rearwardcurved portions of the outer guide tracks 114 are appreciably broadened,that is, those portions of said outer guide tracks along the rearwardportions of the lower return region 54, so that in the event of anobstruction on the stack receiving surface 38 of the outfeed conveyorsection 26 being struck by the extreme free ends 106 of the particularsupport member tines 104, said tine free ends can raise to clear saidobstruction, the outer guide rollers 110 moving to the upper sides ofthe outer guide tracks 114, as best illustrated by a dot-dash positionin FIG. l2 and indicated at 152.

Returning to FIG. 3, after the passing of the particular support member48 or 50 completely through the lower return region 54 and movementupwardly into the rearward return region 56, the outer guide rollers 110remain engaged in the outer guide tracks 114, with the inner guiderollers 108 remaining free. The particular support member 48 or 50 isthereby, at this time, pivotally controlled by the pivotal connectionthereof to the particular conveyor chains 60 or 62 and the outer guiderollers 110 which results in the tines 104 thereof being verticallydownward angled, as illustrated. During the continuation of upwardmovement of the particular support member 48 or 50 through the rearwardreturn region 56, the path of continuous movement of the particularcontrolling conveyor chains 60 or 62 is angled a lesser amount fromstraight vertical than is the upward extension of the outer guide tracks114 so that although the outer guide rollers 110 must remain in theouter guide tracks 114, the inner guide rollers 108, due to the inwardurging by the conveyor chains, move progressively inwardly for ultimatealignment with the ends of the inner guide tracks 112, as illustrated bythe dotdash position indicated at 154.

The inner guide rollers 108 thereby finally enter and move along theinner guide tracks 112 as the particular support member 48 or 50 movesalong the upper return region 58, with the outer guide rollers 110leaving the outer guide tracks 114 and being free, as illustrated in thedot-dash position indicated at 156. Finally, the particular supportmember 48 or 50 moves through the upper return region 58, with the innerguide rollers 108 moving through the inner guide tracks 112 and theouter guide rollers 110 being free for again moving into the upper endof the stacking region 52 into the dot-dash position 140 and ready fordownward movement into engagement with the latch mechanism 36, aspreviously described. The particular of the support members 48 or 50being considered, therefore, has completed one continuous path of travelabout the main frame 20.

The sequential movement of the respective sets of support members 48 and50 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 9 through 12 for showing the uniquealternate movement of the respective sets of support members forcarrying out sequential stack building operations on a continuous basis.Note in the lower portion of each of said figures the illustration ofthe particular positioning of the safety blocks 96 and 98 previouslydescribed as being positioned on the control plates 84 and 90 ofthecontrol shafts 80 and 82, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Such illustration inFIGS. 3 and 9 through 12 shows the movement of the safety blocks 96 and98 with their particular sets of support members 48 and 50, said safetyblocks normally being free of contact, but always being ready forcontact to prevent one set of support members from attempting to Contactand overrun the other.

` Beginning with FIG. 3, the one of the alternate set of support members48 is moving downwardly through the stacking region 52, receiving astack of publications thereon from the publication continuous streampassing thereto from the infeed conveyor section 22, while the other ofsaid support members 48 is moving upwardly approximately midway of therearward return region 56. The other alternate set of support members 50is stationary, the one being engaged with the latch mechanism 36 andinto the track offsets 118 pretensioned or preloaded for ultimate snapentrance into the upper end of the stacking region 52. The other of thesupport members 50 is stationary at the entrance into the rearwardreturn region 56 and the safety blocks 96 and 98 are spaced apart, thesafety block 98 being stationary with the support members 50 and thesafety block 96 moving with the support members 48.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, a stack of publications has been completed onthe support member 48 moving downwardly through the stacking region 52,and movement of the other set of support members 50 has commenced withrelease of the one support member 50 by the latch mechanism 36 for snapentrance into the upper end of the stacking region and the beginning ofthe building of the stack of publications thereon. The safety block 96has continued to move with the set of support members 48, and the safetyblock 98 hasjust commenced movement with the set of support members 50.

As shown in FIG. 10, the one support member 48 carrying the finishedstack of publications has just begun horizontal withdrawal from beneathsaid stack, the tines 104 thereof withdrawing rearwardly through thestack guide bars 126, with the support member 48 initially entering thelower return region 54. The one support member 50 that has entered thestacking region 52 continues to receive publications thereon forbuilding a stack of publications during continued downward movement ofthat support member. The safety block 96 is continuing to move with theset of support members 48 and the safety block 98 is continuing to movewith the set of support members 50.

As shown in FIG. 11, the one of the support members 48 has nearlywithdrawn generally horizontally from the stacking region 52 through thestack guide bars 126 above the stack receiving surface 38 ofthe outfeedconveyor section 26 and is depositing the finished stack of publicationsonto said stack receiving surface. The one of the support members 50moving downwardly through the stacking region 52 continues said downwardmovement and continues to receive a stack of publications being builtthereon. The safety blocks 96 and 98 continue to move with theirrespective set of support members 48 and 50.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 12, the one of the set of support members 48has completely withdrawn from the stacking region 52, depositing thefinished stack of publications onto the stack receiving surface 38 ofthe outfeed conveyor section 26, while the other of said support members48 is approaching the upper end of the stacking region and approachingengagement by the latch mechanism 36 for the stopping of the set ofsupport members 48. The one of the set of support members 50 continuesits downward movement through the stacking region 52, receiving thestack of publications being built thereon, the safety blocks 96 and 98still continuing their same movement with their respective sets ofsupport members 48 and 50. It will be noted thatthe safety blocks 96 and98 at this point are still spaced apart and also that the stopping ofthe approaching support member 48 by the latch mechanism 36 will stopthe safety block 96, but the safety block 98 can continue to move awayfrom said safety block 96 for a substantial distance without contactbetween the two during continued movement of the set of support members50.

During the sequential movement of the sets of support members 48 and 50,as just described, the switches 88 and 94 as controlled by the cams 86and 92 on the contr'ol shafts 80 and 82, shown in FIG. 5 and previouslydescribed, may be used for changing the rate of movement of the sets ofsupport members 48 and 50 during their movement in the continuous pathof travel. For instance, if desired, once a particular of the supportmembers 48 0r 50 has moved downwardly through the stacking region 52 asufficient distance that a stack of publications will have beencompleted thereon, that particular Set of the support members 48 or 50may be switched to an increased rate of travel through the remainder ofthe stacking region S2 and until the other of that particular set ofsupport members 48 or 50 has reached the latch mechanism 36. Also, saidswitches 88 and 94 may be used to control movement of the flat conveyorbelt 40 forming the stack receiving surface 38 on the outfeed conveyorsection 26 in order that said conveyor belt will move a finished stackof publications deposited thereon away from alignment with the path ofmovement of the support members, all contemplated within the broadprinciples of the present invention.

According to the present invention, therefore, a stacking device isprovided wherein the particular support member 48 or 50 entering intothe stacking region 52 to receive publications thereon for the buildingof a publication stack is separately movable and separately controlledfrom the next successive of the support members 48 or 50 to move intosaid stacking region. ln this manner, the movement of the particularsupport member 48 or 50 can be more nearly perfectly controlled toconform with the rate of deposit of the publications thereon resultingin a more orderly arranged stack of publications being built.

Furthermore, the foregoing unique separate movement of the successivesupport members 48 and 50 along with the unique preloading of saidsupport members by the latch mechanism 36 and the guide track offsets118, provides instantaneous snap entrance of the support membersinitially into the stacking region 52. Such snap entrance results inproper interception of the continuous stream of publications from theinfeed conveyor section 22, despite the high speed movement of saidcontinuous publication stream.

Still further, the unique, generally horizontal withdrawal of thesupport members 48 or 50 from beneath the finished stack of publicationsto deposit said stack onto the stack receiving surface 38 in the reducedspeed manner hereinbefore described, said withdrawal being totally abovesaid stack receiving surface, completely eliminates any possibledifficulties with an improperly arranged publication stack. Despite thearrangement of said publication stack, the same will always be wipedfrom the support members 48 and 50 by the stack guide bars 126, so thatno mechanism jam can result.

Still additionally, the described simplicity of construction of thesupport members 48 and S0 combined with the exact control thereof by thesets ofinner and outer guide rollers 108 and 110 moving through the setsof inner and outer guide tracks 112 and 114, combined with their pivotalconnections to the conveyor chains 60 and 62, makes possible exactcontrolled movement of the support members precisely as intendedthroughout the continuous path of travel thereof. At the same time, theangled extension of the inner and outer guide tracks 112 and 114continuously change and control the particular angle of extention of thesupport member tines 104 into the stacking region 52 during the buildingof publication stacks thereon so as to always provide proper positioningof said support members for receiving the publications thereon, givingmaximum assurance of proper and orderly publication stacks being built.

We claim:

l. ln a stacking device for a publication conveyor system, thecombination of: a main frame; first and second stack building means onsaid main frame independently movable in a common continuous pathgenerally vertically downwardly through a stacking region to a stackingregion lower end and then upwardly through a return region displacedhorizontally from said stacking region for return to an upper end ofsaid stacking region, said first and second stack building meansincluding alternate stack support members thereon positioned one at atime to intercept a continuous stream of publications from an infeedconveyor to build generally vertical publication stacks on each of saidsupport members, during progressive movement of said support memberswith said stack building means movement downwardly through said stackingregion, said support members during said movement depositing said stacksat said stacking region lower end; drive means operably connected toeach of said first and second stack building means for separately andsimultaneously moving said stack building means including said stacksupport members thereof; and control means operably connected to saiddrive means for actuating said drive means to separately andsimultaneously move said stack building means, said control means beingconstructed and arranged to control said drive means to always stop oneof said stack building means with a support member thereof poised insaid stacking region upper end ready for downward entry into saidstacking region during at least a part of the actuation of said drivemeans to move said other stack building means with a support memberthereof moving downwardly through said stacking region, while a stack isbeing built thereon.

2. A stacking device as defined in claim 1 in which said control meansincludes stack size determining means operably connected to said drivemeans for constantly determining the size of stack of publications beingbuilt on said support member of said other stack building means andautomatically actuating said drive means for commencing movement of saidsupport member of said one stack building means poised at said stackingregion upper end upon a predetermined size of stack being determined.

3. A stacking device as defined in claim 1 in which said control meansincludes a stop switch engaged by each of said support members uponmovement of said support members to said stacking region upper end forstopping actuation of part of said drive means to stop the particularstack building means including said support member, counter means forcounting each publication being fed to the particular support memberupon which a stack of publications is being built to constantlydetermine the size of publication stack on said particular supportmember, said counter means being operably connected for causingreactuation of said drive means part upon a predetermined size of stackbeing determined to commence movement of the particular support memberstopped poised at said stacking region upper end through commencingmovement of its particular stack building means.

4. A stacking device as defined in claim 1 in which each of said supportmembers of the respective first and second stack building means includesa stack supporting portion projecting from the particular of the supportmembers in cantilever fashion; and in which said control means includesreleasable latch means engaged by said supporting portion of each ofsaid support members upon said support members being moved to saidstacking region upper end by the particular stack building means thereofcausing said supporting portion of said support member to tilt upwardlya greater degree than prior to said latch means engagement, stop switchmeans engaged by each of said support members immediately afterengagement of said support member supporting portion by said latch meansfor stopping actuation of part of said drive means to stop theparticular stack building means including said support member, stacksize determining means operably connected for constantly determining thesize of stack of publications being built on the particular supportmember moving progressively downwardly through said stacking region,said stack size determining means upon a predetermined size of stackbeing determined releasing said latch means to release engagement of asupport member supporting portion and reactivate said drive means partto commence movement of the particular support member stopped poised atsaid stacking region upper end through commencing movement of itsparticular stack building means.

5. A stacking device as defined in claim l in which each of said firstand second stack building means includes continuous conveyor chain meansmovable generally in said common continuous path, said stack supportmembers being pivotally connected to said conveyor chain means of saidstack building means projecting in cantilever fashion therefrom, a guidemember on each of said support members spaced from the pivotalconnection of said support member to said conveyor chain means; and inwhich guide track means is mounted on said main frame receiving saidsupport member guide members therein during movement of said supportmembers downwardly through said stacking region and controlling theangle of projection of said support members from said conveyor chainmeans.

6. A stacking device as defined in claim l in which each of said firstand second stack building means includes conveyor chain means generallymovable in said common continuous path, each of said support membersbeing pvotally connected to one of said conveyor chain means projectingtherefrom in cantilever fashion and terminating from said conveyor chainmeans in a free end, a guide member on each of said support membersspaced from said pivotal connection of said support member to a conveyorchain means; guide track means on said main frame receiving said guidemembers of said support members moving downwardly therethrough uponapproach of said support members to said stacking region upper end andduring downward movement of said support members through said stackingregion for controlling the angle of cantilever projection of saidstacking members during movement downwardly through said stackingregion, said guide track means including an offset portion for receivingsaid guide members of said support members therein upon said supportmembers arriving at said stacking region upper end to permit a temporaryincreased upward tilting of said stacking members; and in which saidcontrol means includes releasable latch means engaged by each of saidsupport member free ends upon said support member arriving at saidstacking region upper end causing said support members to move into saidtemporary increased upward tilting and said guide members of saidsupport members to move into said offset portion of said guide trackmeans, stop switch means engaged by each of said support membersimmediately after engagement of said support member free ends by saidlatch means stopping actuation of part of said drive means to stop theparticular stack building means including the particular support memberat said stacking region upper end, the timing of said support memberengagement with said stop switch means and said stacking member free endengagement with said latch means being predetermined to cause tensioningof said support members to tension urge said support members to movefrom said temporary upward tilting and said guide members of saidsupport members to move from said offset portion of said guide trackmeans upon said support member free ends being released by said latchmeans, counter means for counting each publication being fed to theparticular support member moving downwardly through said stacking regionand upon which a stack of publications is being built to constantlydetermine the size of publication stack on said particular supportmember, said counter means being operably connected releasing said latchmeans to release engagement of said support member free ends andreactuate said drive means part upon a predetermined size of stack beingdetermined to commence movement of the particular support member stoppedpoised at said stacking region upper end.

7. A stacking device as defined in claim l in which said stack supportmembers of said first and second stack building means include stacksupporting portions receiving thereon the publications fed to saidsupport members during movement of said support members downwardlythrough said stacking region permitting a publication stack to be builtthereon; and in which guide means is mounted on said main framereceiving a part of said support members movable downwardly therethroughduring movement of said support members downwardly through said stackingregion for positioning said supporting portions of said support membersin proper position for receiving said publications thereon, said guidemeans withdrawing said supporting portions of said support members fromsaid publication stack and causing said deposit of said stack at saidstacking region lower end upon said support members arriving at saidstacking region lower end.

8. A stacking device as defined in claim l in which said main frameincludes a generally horizontal stack receiving surface at said stackingregion lower end; in which said support memllo bers of said first andsecond stack building means include stack supporting portions receivingsaid publications downwardly thereon during movement of said supportmembers downwardly through said stacking region and supporting saidpublication stack being built; and in which guide means is mounted onsaid main frame receiving parts of said support members movabledownwardly therethrough during movement of said support membersdownwardly through said stacking region and positioning said supportingportions of said stack members for receiving said publications thereon,said guide means guiding said support members to withdraw saidsupporting portions of said support members at least partially from saidpublication stacks as said supporting portions of said support membersapproach said stack receiving surface on said main frame at saidstacking region lower end and prior to said supporting portions of saidsupport members reaching said stack receiving surface of said main framedumping said publication stacks at said stack receiving surface.

9. A stacking device as defined in claim 1 in which said main frameincludes a generally horizontal stack receiving surface at said stackingregion lower end; in which said support members of said first and secondstack building means include stack supporting portions receiving saidpublications downwardly thereon during movement of said support membersdownwardly through said stacking region and supporting said publicationstack being built; and in which guide means is mounted on said mainframe receiving parts of said support members movable downwardlytherethrough during movement of said support members downwardly throughsaid stacking region and positioning said supporting portions of saidstack members for receiving said publications thereon, said guide meansguiding said support members to withdraw said supporting portions ofsaid support members totally from said publication stacks as saidsupporting portions of said support members approach said stackreceiving surface on said main frame at said stacking region lower endand prior to said supporting portions of said support members reachingsaid stack receiving surface of said main frame dumping said publicationstacks at said stack receiving surface.

l0. ln a stacking device for a publication conveyor system, thecombination of: a main frame; a first set of spaced stack supportmembers defining stack supporting surfaces thereon; a second set ofspaced stack support members defining stack supporting surfaces thereon;guide means operably connecting said first support member set and saidsecond support member set to said main frame, each separately movable ina common continuous path, downwardly through a stacking region to astacking region lower end and then upwardly through a return regiondisplaced from said stacking region for return to a stacking regionupper end, the stack support members of one set being positionedalternately with the stack support members of the other set along saidcontinuous path, said guide means including means cooperable betweensaid main frame and said stack support members positioning each of saidstack support members with said supporting surfaces extending generallyhorizontally during support member movement downwardly through saidstacking region receiving publications downwardly thereon into apublication stack from a continuous stream of publications fed theretoand depositing a finished publication stack on a surface at saidstacking region lower end; and drive means for moving each of saidsupport member sets separately in said continuous path with one setalways being stationary and a support member thereof poised for entranceinto said stacking region during a part of the movement of the otherset, and said drive means further moving a preceding support memberdownwardly through said stacking region.

ll. A stacking device as defined in claim l0 in which control means isoperably connected to said drive means and includes stop switch meansactionablepby each of said support members upon said support membersarriving at said stacking region upper end for stopping the particularset of support members of which that particular support member is apart,

stack size determining means operably connected to said drive means fordetermining when a predetermined size of publication stack has beenbuilt on each of said support members during movement of said supportmembers downwardly through said stacking region and causing reactuationof said drive means to said particular set of support members upon saidpredetermined stack being determined to begin downward movement intosaid stacking region of that support member then stopped poised readyfor entrance into said stacking region.

12. A stacking device as defined in claim l in which said guide meansincludes a guide member on each of said support members, guide trackmeans on said main frame receiving said support member guide membersdownwardly therethrough during movement of said guide members downwardlythrough said stacking region and controlling the angularity of saidstack supporting surfaces of said support members positioning said stacksupporting surfaces extending generally horizontally for building apublication stack thereon.

13. A stacking device as defined in claim in which said guide meansincludes a guide member on each of said support members, guide trackmeans on said main frame receiving said support member guide membersdownwardly therethrough during movement of said guide members downwardlythrough said stacking region and controlling the angularity of saidstack supporting surfaces of said support members positioning said stacksupporting surfaces extending generally horizontally for building apublication stack thereon, said guide track means through co-operationof said support member guide members at least partially withdrawing saidstack supporting surfaces of said guide members from beneath saidpublication stacks above a stack receiving surface of said main frame atsaid stacking region lower end to deposit said stacks on said stackreceiving surface.

14. A stacking device as defined in claim l0 in which said guide meansincludes a guide member on each of said support members, guide trackmeans on said main frame receiving said support member guide membersdownwardly therethrough during movement of said guide members downwardlythrough said stacking region and controlling the angularity of saidstack supporting surfaces of said support members positioning said stacksupporting surfaces extending generally horizontally for building apublication stack thereon, said guide track means with co-operation ofsaid support member guide members totally withdrawing said supportmember supporting surfaces from beneath said publication stacks whilesaid support member supporting surfaces are still extending in agenerally horizontal direction and are still above a stack receivingsurface of said main frame at said stacking region lower end to depositsaid publication stacks at said stack receiving surface.,

l5. A stacking device as defined in claim 10 in which each of saidsupport members includes a plurality of tines thereon forming said stacksupporting surfaces and positioned extending generally horizontallyduring support member movement downwardly through said stacking region;and in which said main frame includes members forming a stationarysurface extending generally vertically downwardly through said stackingregion and adjacent end portions of said support member tines duringmovement of said support members downwardly through said stackingregion, said main frame members and said support member tinesco-operating to stack said publications during movement of said supportmembers downwardly through said stacking region.

16. A stacking device as defined in claim l0 in which each of saidsupport members includes a plurality of tines thereon forming said stacksupporting surfaces and positioned extending generally horizontallyduring support member movement downwardly through said stacking region;in which said main frame includes members forming a stationary surfaceextending generally vertically downwardly through said stacking regionand adjacent end portions of said support member tines during movementof said support members downwardly through said stacking region, saidmain frame members and said support member tines cooperating to stacksaid publications during movement of said support members downwardlythrough said stacking region; in which said main frame includes agenerally horizontally extending stack receiving surface at saidstacking region lower end; and in which said guide means includes guidetrack means on said main frame engaging said support members for atleast partially generally horizontally withdrawing said support membertines from 'beneath said publication stacks above said main frame stackreceiving surface while said main frame members retain said publicationstacks in stacked position to deposit said publication stacks onto saidmain frame stack receiving surface.

17. A stacking device as defined in claim 10 in which each i of saidsupport members includes a plurality of tines thereon forming said stacksupporting surfaces and positioned extend- `ingfgenerally horizontallyduring support member movement downwardly through said stacking region;in which said main frame includes members forming a stationary surfaceextendinggenerally vertically downwardly through said stacking regionand adjacent end portions of said support member tines during movementof said support members downwardly through said stacking region, saidmain frame members and j said support member tines co-operating to stacksaid publicaj' tions during movement of said support members downwardlythrough said stacking region; in which said main frame inn cludes agenerally horizontally extending stack receiving surface at saidstacking region lower end; and in which said guide means includes guidetrack means on said main frame engaging said support members for totallygenerally horizontally withdrawing said support member tines frombeneath said t publication stacks totally above said main frame stackreceiving surface while said publication stacks are still retained bysaid main frame members to deposit said publication stacks on said stackreceiving surface.

-l8. ln a stacking device for a publication conveyor system, thecombination of: a main frame; a plurality of spaced stack supportmembers including supporting portions extending from mounting ends tonormally free ends, a set of spaced guide members operably connected toeach of said support member supporting portions; guide means operablyconnecting said support members to said main frame movable in acontinuous path downwardly through a stacking region to a stackingregion lower end and then upwardly through a return region displacedfrom said stacking region for return to a stacking region upper end,ysaid guide means including spaced guide track means on said main frameeach receiving one of said guide members of said support membersupporting portions movable downwardly therethrough during movement ofsaid support members downwardly through said stacking region retainingsaid support members with said supporting portions extendingcantilevered for receiving publications downwardly thereon into apublication stack from a continuous stream of publications fed theretoand depositing a finished publication stack at said stacking regionlower end, the spacing between said guide track means varying along saidstacking region and through guiding of said guide members of saidsupport members varying the angle of extension of said support membersupporting portions; and drive means for moving said support membersalong said continuous path.

1-9. A stacking device as defined in claim 18 in which said guide meansincludes conveyor chain means operably connected to said drive means andmovable generally along said continuous path by said drive means, saidconveyor chain means being pivotally connected to said support membersintermediate said support member guide members for moving said supportmembers in said continuous path and permitting said guide member varyingof said angle of extension of said support members.

20. ln a stacking device for a publication conveyor system, thecombination of: a main frame; a plurality of spaced stack supportmembers including supporting portions extending from mounting ends tonormally free ends, a set of spaced guide members operably connected toeach of said support member supporting portions; guide means operablyconnecting said support members to saidl mainframe movable in acontinuous path downwardly through a stacking region to a stackingregion lower end and then upwardly through a return region displacedfrom said stacking region for return to a stacking region upper end,said guide means including spaced guide track means on said main frameeach receiving one of said guide members of said support membersupporting portions movable downwardly therethrough during movement ofsaid support members downwardly through said stacking region retainingsaid support members with said supporting portions extendingcantilevered for receiving publications downwardly thereon into apublication stack from a continuous stream of publications fed theretoand depositing a finished publication stack at said stacking regionlower end, at

least one of said guide track means extending from said stacking regionlower end toward said return region guiding its respective supportmember guide member for withdrawing said support members from saidfinished publication stacks while maintaining said support membersupporting portions extending in a general horizontal directionsubstantially throughout said withdrawal; and drive means for movingsaid support members along said continuous path.

21. A stacking device as defined in claim in which said main frameincludes a generally horizontal stack receiving surface at said stackingregion lower end receiving said finished publication stacks depositedthereon by said support mem bers; and in which said guide track meansthrough guiding extension thereof and engagement by said support memberguide members withdraws each of said support members from said finishedpublication stacks totally above said stack receiving surface whilemaintaining said support member supporting portion extending in ageneral horizontal direction during the entire of said withdrawal.

22. A stacking device as defined in claim 20 in which stop switch meansis operably associated with said drive means for stopping movement ofeach of' said support members upon said support members being moved tosaid stacking region upper end; in which releasable latch means isoperably connected to said main frame at said stacking region upper endfor engagement by said support member free ends upon said supportmembers arriving at and stopping at said stacking region upper end; inwhich means is operably connected to said drive means and saidreleasable latch means for restarting movement of each of said supportmembers and releasing said latch means therefrom after stopping by saidstop switch means; and in which at least one of said spaced guide trackmeans of said guide means includes a track offset receiving the supportmember guide member of that guide track means for each support membertherein upon said support members being engaged by said releasable latchmeans permitting upward tilting of said support members during thestopping of said support members and the engagement by said releasablelatch means, said support member guide member received in said trackoffset of said guide track means moving from said track offset uponmovement of said support members from said stacking region upper endbeing commenced and said releasable latch means being released.

23. A stacking device as defined in claim 20 in which said guide meansincludes conveyor chain means operably connected to said drive means andpivotally connected to each of said support members intermediate saidsupport member' guide members for moving said support members along saidcontinuous path and permitting pivotal movement of said supsupportmembers upon stopping at said stacking region upper end; in whichreleasable latch means is operably connected to said main frame at saidstacking region upper end engageable by said supporting portion freeends of said support members and pivotally upwardly tilting said supportmembers during stopping of said support members at said stacking regionupper end, timing between said stop control means stopping and saidlatch means engagement creating a predetermined overrun of said conveyorchain means of said guide means for each of said support members causingtensioning of said support members in said stopped upward tiltedposition normally `tending to urge said support members downwardly fromsaid upwardly tilted position; and in which stack size determining meansis operably associated with said support members for determining when apredetermined size stack of publications has been built on said supportmembers during positioning thereof within said stacking region andcausing release of the particular support member stopped at saidstacking region upper end by release of said latch means and movement ofsaid support member guide member from said track offset of said guidetrack means by actuation of said drive means.

' 24. A stacking device as defined in claim 20 in which certain parts ofsaid guide track means of said guide means extend entirely along saidcontinuous path at all times controlling at least one of said guidemembers on each of said support members to at all times control saidextension of said support member supporting portions throughout movementalong said continuous path.

25. ln a stacking device for a publication conveyor system, thecombination of: a main frame including a forward, generally verticalstacking region terminating downwardly in a generally horizontal stackreceiving surface at a stacking region lower end; a plurality of spacedstack support members, each of said support members including a stacksupporting portion; guide means operably connecting said support membersto said main frame movable in a continuous path downwardly through saidforward stacking region to said stacking region lower end adjacent saidstack receiving surface and then rearwardly and then upwardly through areturn region spaced rearwardly from said stacking region and thenforwardly back to a stacking region upper end, said guide meansincluding positioning means between said support members and main framemaintaining said supporting portions of said support members extendingin general horizontal directions forwardly into said stacking regionduring support member movement downwardly through said stacking regionfor receiving publications downwardly thereon into publication stacksfrom a continuous stream of publications fed thereto and at leastpartially withdrawing said support member supporting portions frombeneath said publication stacks in a generally horizontal directionwhile said support member supporting portions are still above said stackreceiving surface and said support member supporting portions are stillextending in a general horizontal direction to deposit finishedpublication stacks on said stack receiving surface; and drive means formoving said support members in said continuous path.

26. A stacking device as defined in claim 25 in which said guide meanspositioning means is constructed and arranged for totally withdrawingsaid support member supporting portions from beneath said publicationstacks in a generally horizontal direction and while said support membersupporting portions are still totally above said stack receiving surfaceand said support member supporting portions are still extending in ageneral horizontal direction.

27. A stacking device as defined in claim 25 in which stationary stacksupporting surfaces are formed on said main frame extending generallyvertically downwardly along said stacking region co-operating with saidsupport member supporting portions to support publication stacks on saidsupport members, said publication stacks sliding along said mainframestack supporting surfaces during movement of said support membersdownwardly through said stacking region.

28* A stacking device as defined in claim 25 in which said supportingportions of said support members include spaced tines maintained by saidpositioning means extending forwardly in cantilevered fashion into saidstacking region during movement of said support members downwardlythrough said stacking region.

29. A stacking device as defined in claim 25 in which said main frameincludes spaced stack positioning surfaces thereon extending verticallydownwardly along said stacking region; in which said supporting portionsof said support members include a series of spaced tines extendingforwardly through said main frame supporting surfaces and forwardly intosaid stacking region in cantilevered fashion during movement of f saidsupport members downwardly through said stacking re- 30. A stackingdevice as defined in claim 25 in which stationary stack supportingsurfaces are formed on said main frame extending generally verticallydownwardly along said stacking region, said supporting surfacesextending downwardly at least substantially to said stack receivingsurface of said main frame; and in which said positioning means of saidguide means is constructed and arranged for maintaining said supportingportions of said support members extending forwardly from said mainframe supporting surfaces in cantilevered fashion during positioning ofsaid support members within said stacking region, said main framesupporting surfaces and said support member supporting portionscooperating to support publication stacks on said support membrs duringpositioning of said support members in said stacking region, saidpublication stacks sliding downwardly along said main frame supportingsurfaces during downward movement of said support members through saidstacking reglon.

